1994 Gen 2 LT1 mod question

I

IndyC4veryBBC

Member
I keep going back and forth on the engine upgrade choices for my 94 corvette. I’m not against an entire engine swap but have been wanting to do something different you don’t see everyday. Since there’s so little actual support for the Gen 2 LT1 maybe someone can answer this here.

I’ve always wanted a muscle car with a blower. I’ve read that people have tapped and drilled standard SBC intakes to work on the LT1. Yes, I know the LT1has reverse cooling and higher compression than the standard SBC. There’s even an intake special designed to convert the LT1 EFI to carb, even if it isn’t cheap ($450ish).

Has anyone tapped and drilled a Weiand roots blower intake from like a 177 or B&M blower intake to work on the LT1? If I do an engine swap I figure I’m looking $10-12 or even $15k including the engine. But I can get a basic 177 blower complete for around $3,500 (parts only). Is that really something overly crazy or should I just plan on an engine swap? I just don’t want what everybody on the planet already has. And it wouldn’t hurt if it helped the value of the car go up either…but I font expect to get all my money out of it either.
 
YOUR ISSUE IS BOTH THE LT1 HEADS REVERSE COOLING AND A LACK OF HOOD CLEARANCE
a set of bigger injectors and a reprogramed CPU with a centrifugal super charger on the basically stock or mildly modded engines a much better choice, as its been designed to fit under the hood and work correctly
and produce FAR MORE HORSEPOWER than a 177 or B&M blower ever will

www.procharger.com

1996-1992 CORVETTE C4 SUPERCHARGERS (LT1, LT4)

Upgrade your 1996-1992 Corvette C4 (LT1 and LT4) and experience a new level of performance with ProCharger supercharger systems.
www.procharger.com www.procharger.com

it won't come out with the power a 540 -598 cid BBC engine swap should,
especially if you centrifugal supercharge the 540 -598 cid BBC or use nitrous
if done correctly will but its easier to do and not as expensive
and less likely to shed the transmission and rear differential

installing a BIG BLOCK CHEVY IN A C4

theres no way a c-4 will exactly match the weight distribution and handling of a C6, BUT the strait line acceleration CAN be equaled or exceeded with a decent well thought thru and executed BBC swap,and you might be amazed at how well a properly set-up C4 with a big block engine handles in the...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

the c4-bbc engine swap

no its not a TRUE drop in,and drive engine swap, it will require some fabrication skills to do correctly, but its not that difficult either! and its a reasonable way to get 500-600 hp, and 500-600 ft lbs of torque PLUS in a c4 corvette. Ive built engines for . and helped work on, some of the...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

consider the c4 corvette as a project car

yes you could build a cobra kit car or a T-bucket, project, that would be maybe 1400 lbs lighter in weight, (a huge performance advantage), but it would generally cost you 3-5 times as much, as purchasing a used c4 corvette will, and there's a huge parts, supply and knowledge base supporting...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

I need all the 4L80E trans info you know guys!!

b] ok all you transmission guys, IM also VERY interested in the answers because I purchased a 4L80E to install in my 1985 corvette when I do the swap to the big block engine , because theres no 700r4 thats going to handle the torque numbers that engine will produce, so any info will be greatly...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

anyone have experience converting a 4l80E to full manual?

At Eds In Joiliet Grumpy. We have both read that thw 4L808E is good for 800Hp & 800ft/lbs torque. Not sure if its true. I would upgrade to All parts that Sonnex & Trans Go has available to fit your budget. Red Alto Eagle frictions & Kolene Steels for sure. 300M input shaft. Heavy Duty Sprags...
garage.grumpysperformance.com
Gear comparisons for 700R4 vs. other GM Transmissions:
.............................1st.......2nd....3rd....4th
Power Glide..............1.76......1.0
TH350 .....................2.52.....1.52....1.0
TH400......................2.48.....1.48....1.0
700-R4/4L60..............3.06.....1.63....1.0.....70
200-R4.....................2.74.....1.57....1.0.....67
4L80E......................2.48.....1.48....1.0.....75

Manual 4l80e

I did convert 4l80e to full manual I used this instructions https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y3bQQaBHk5HwgmHHMR7WVgtY3JKzvXTl/view?usp=drivesdk My transfer case started to stuck to lo range,so i disaited to do trans swap and check the transfer case So i did basic overhaul to trans,dual feed and...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

calculate gear ratios, and when to shift calcs

you really should read all the links and sub-links below to maximize your understanding of the concepts, in the thread READ THE LINKS AND SUB LINKS http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/matching-the-drive-train-to-the-engine-combo.741/...
garage.grumpysperformance.com

matching the drive train to the engine combo

HEY GRUMPYVETTE? I'm building a mild performance, 9:1 static CR, 350 for my 55 and looking into camshaft choices...I understand the intake closing point (degrees) will affect the dynamic compression ratio (DCR)....My question is what DCR should I be shooting for? and what rear gear and stall...
garage.grumpysperformance.com
 
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Thanks Grumpy! I’ll have to let the SC option go in lue of an engine swap. Cheapest centrifugal SC I’ve found is between $6-7k on up.
 
nothing in this hobby is cheap or easy, you are sure to find either route you select will easily cost you more than $10-$12K MINIMUM when all the bugs are worked out and all the little crap you failed to think through, that generally comes up like the need for a larger radiator and trans/oil cooler and larger brakes, better ignition, cpu mods, larger injectors, differential gearing, better rear axles, a higher rpm stall converter, and other changes, etc, ETC are finally installed and reworked
 
My builder put together a combination of new MSD ignition, new injectors, new hotcam and lifters rebuild on the heads and custom ECU from PCM for less in Ohio. All that and full headers, gutted cats and full Borla exhaust and he said I’d be around 350hp. I’m thinking that sounds pretty anemic for $8k in an engine or are we underestimating? It was going to be tuned on a dyno. I was only trying to break 400hp. I looked into stroker kits, a complete new 383 blue print engine with carb, I’m just stunned that 400hp seems to be so outrageous for the LT1 without a SC on it. That’s why I was going to go a mild BBC motor swap in my 94 and I would have something somewhat unique that I’ve never seen in my area. I know I’m all over the place on this. I’m already close to $60k in my build not counting the car itself. It was in my wedding so sentimentality comes at a high cost sometimes.
 
www.motortrend.com

Gen II LT1 Engine Build

These days if you mention General Motors’ LT1, most will automatically assume you are talking about the modern all-aluminum wondertech V-8 with direct injection
www.motortrend.com www.motortrend.com

www.motortrend.com

500 HP NA LT1 Engine - Tech Article - Chevy High Performance Magazine

Read the tech article on a 500 HP NA LT1 Engine, brought to you by the experts at Chevy High Performance Magazine.
www.motortrend.com www.motortrend.com




getting 450-500 hp out of a modded LT1 is hardly difficult with the correct plan
do more research before you open your wallet and jump head first into the project, theres a dozen options.\, all cost more than you want them too but you have both options and the ability to think them thru careully at this point
 
Hey, Thanks Grumpy! I guess I’ve missed something significant! I thought that trying to get that much HP out of an LT1 just wasn’t possible with nitros or a blower!
 
getting 500hp-600hp on a mildly modified LT1 with nitros or a blower! is very simple
the issue is longer term durability if you don't make the correct extended durability mods like proper bearings and clearances, larger injectors ,
oil coolers and ideally forged pistons and the correct clearances on rings bearings , added knock sensors, oxygen sensors and cpu mods etc.
guys have swapped heads, added a forged stroker assembly to build a 396 LT1 and regularly got north of 700 hp with turbos added on lt1 vettes
 
Sorry, I misspoke. I meant to say that I thought I HAD to go with one of those on the LT1. I’m just trying to get around 400-450ish and still keep it drivable and “durable”. I can’t type this weekend.
 
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